Electric heater



une 2, 193 w. A. M ERKLElN 2 7 ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Deg; 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

June 2,1936.

' W. A. MERKLEIN ELECTRIC HEATER 2 Sheets-Shei 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1933 I INVENTOR flaw. a W

ATTORNEYS "II// ll 11/ 5"0", III 7171?! Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC HEATER V William Andrew Merklein, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 1, 1933, Serial No. 700,427

21 Claims. (61. 2219-34) This invention relates to electric heaters and more especially to an electric heater designed primarily for use as a broiler.

An object of this invention is an eilieient heat 5 projector capable of relation to a circumscribed area in a specific plane to provide an even, compensated and well defined heat in said area.

A further object of this invention is a broiler which projects a quick, even and accessible broil- 10 ing heat to a visible broiling area, providing thereby a broiler of broad utility which'largely eliminates the preheating, guess work, incon-' 2 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the heater support; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modification. Referring particularly to Fig. l, the annular reflector shown 2'! is generated by rotation about 30 a common axis 87 ct two substantially parabolic sections 28 and 29, said sections being so related to each other that their axes r and y intersect one another and cross a perpendicular 39 to the plane of the element- The annular channel thus formed is so related to an annular element 8! and S2 that it intercepts substantially-all heat rays not radiated toward the broiling area, and so concentrates, orders, divides and reflects the intercepted rays as to produce two transverse heats of varying and tapering intensity. Thus sections of higher intensity are transposed to overlap and reinforce sections of lower intensity, and the transverse heats are caused to at once complement each other and compensate for the 45 inequalities of the direct heat and thereby eflect a substantially uniform distribution of heat over the broiling area.

Fig. 2 is a section of the reflector on line 2-2 in Fig. l, and illustrates diagrammatically the paths of rays in the third dimension. In this diagram ray A, leaving the heating element in a direction radialfto the annular channel, strikes point C in the reflector'and is deflected down to destination in the broiling area; while oblique rayB strikingthe samepointcinthereflector is deflected to destination I). The action of the intermediate oblique rays is obvious. Thus it will be seen that every point in the reflector receives a veritable heat image oi. a section of the heating element, and reverses and reflects said image to the broiling area in the form of a curved line of heat tapering across and confined to said area.

Thus both undue concentration and abrupt termination oi the reflected heat is obviated. And the innumerable angles and cross directions taken 10 by these rays combine with the direct heat to provide a broiling heat conditioned to broil not only flat surfaces, as in steak, but rounded and oblique surfaces, as in chicken, sausages, meat balls, lamb on a skewer, etc. lo

Referring now to Figs. 3-7, a base iii of wood or other suitable material is provided with a metal surface Ii and constitutes the supporting plate or base on which a pan 1? or other cooking utensil or vessel may rest. A rod l2, set into the tubular 2o switch plate 23 extends upward and forms a loop l3 concentric with and overlying the base. This loop supports a hanger l4 having tabs 55 bent over the loop l3. The hanger it consists of two rings is between which are arranged transverse 25 plates ll. Each plate ii is provided with two apertures and insulating plates l9 having similarly arranged apertures fit against the sides of each plate it and are held assembled therewith by tubular metal rivets I9.

Fig. 7 discloses the partially completed hanger. The hanger is made from a metal ribbon by punching out sections of the ribbon to leave the strips it and connecting plates M which are sub, sequently turned at right angles from the position shown in Fig. 'i. The hanger is completed by joining the ends oi the strips it, thus forming a ring. The tabs are shaped to hook onto the loop i3.

A heating coil 2t has one end. connected to an 49 electrical connector 2i, by means of a bolt 22 passing through one eyelet of a plate l i and being screwed into the coil, a tubular nut 3! being threadedto the outside of the coil to anchor the r connection. The coil then passes through corresponding rivets in successive plates l1 until it traverses approximately half the loop. The coil is then turned back and passed through other rivets until it traverses approximately the whole circumference of the loop, whereupon it is re- 50 turned through the remaining rivets for approximately half the loop and has its remaining end connected to the electrical conductor 22. The insulated conductors 2| and 22 extend through channels in the plate 2: and connect with switch toeach other-and to the direct rays. -"flected rays are caused to travel obliquely with respect to the plane of the heating element and thus overlap and reinforce each other to compensate for the inequalities of direct heat rays and thereby effect a substantially uniform dis- Other conductors 25 lead from the switch 24 through channels in the plate 23 to a plug 24, by means of which the device may be connected to a suitable source of electrical current. Means of varying the height of the broiler are provided in the slidable engagement of a switch plate 23 with channels 32 in the supporting plate 33 which is attached to the base l0. Set screw 34 engages with switch plate 23 and contacts supporting plate 33 to fix broiler at desired height.

A reflector 21 is supported by the loop I3, this reflector merely resting on the loop and being removed for cleaning simply by lifting. The reflector has two parabolic surfaces 28 and 29 generated by rotation about a common axis of two connected parabolic curves having spaced foci and intersecting axes, the arrangement of a the axes being indicated by dot-dash lines X-X -.myself to the preferred form of an annular reilector generated by the rotation of two opposing polarizing parabolic sections about a common axis, but wish to claim any relation between a substantially annular heating element, and a substantially annular reflector in which direct ra dlation is confined to the desired area by an annular reflecting channel which causes transversely reflected rays to intersect a perpendicular to'the'plane of the element and thus provide a -substantially even and compensated heat in a specific area.

.Inthe modification disclosed in Fig. 8, the reflector 31 consists of two parabolic surfaces 28 -and'- 2! generated by rotation about a common axis of two-parabolic curves having coincident fool and intersecting axes, the arrangement of the axes being indicated by the dot-dash lines XX audit-Y. --In this modification, the heater conslots-of a' single coil arranged concentric with'the coincident foci-of the surfaces 28 and 29. In this modification, as well as in the modification previously described, the reflected waves are projected to the broiling area in transverse relation The retribution of heat over the broiling area.

It is obvious that in framing the claims to concurwwith the annular form disclosed in the drawings, 1' also wish to include such modifications toward the oval and .the square as may come within the substance of the invention.

- It is to be understood that the structure deilnedherein and described in detail is merely one embodiment of the invention and that various structural modifications may be made and the invention contemplates all such arrangements of' reflecting surfaces and the heating means as lie within the scope of the invention as defined in'the appended claims.

I claim: a

L-A-"heater comprising an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis with sides of substantially equal height, and an annular heating element in said annular trough, said surfaces being arranged to divide the reflected rays and direct them in intersecting relation to each other and to the direct rays.

2. In a broiler, an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis with sides of substantially equal height, an annular heating element in said annular trough, and a plate facing-said reflector and defining the extent of the broiling area, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially to the broiling area and to direct substantially all the reflected rays into said broiling area at different angles to each other and to the direct rays.

3. In a broiler, an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis with sides of substantially equal height, an annular heating element in said annular trough, and a plate facing said reflector and defining the extent of the broiling area, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially. to the broiling area and to divide the reflected rays and direct them into the broiling area in intersecting relation to each other and to the direct rays.

4. In a broiler, an annular reflector comprisprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged atdifferent distances from a common ing relation to each other and to the direct rays.

5. In a broiler, an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive different parabolic surfaces of revolution arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis with sides of substantially equal height, annular heating means in said annular trough, and a plate facing said reflector and defining the extent of the broiling area, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially to the broiling area and to direct reflected rays into the same area.

6. In a broiler, an annular trough-shaped reflector comprising surfaces generated by rotation about, but at different distances from, a common axis of two parabolic curves having separate foci and intersecting axes, a heating element arranged at the focus of each surface.

'7. In a broiler, an annular trough-shaped reflector comprising surfaces generated by rotation broiling area, said surfaces being amused to confine direct rays substantially to the broiling area and to direct reflected rays into said broiling area.

8. In a broiler, a base. a support mounted on said base and having a loop portion overlying the base, an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis with sides of substantially equal height, said reflector resting on said loop and facing said base, a heating element in said reflector, saidsurfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially to the area of the base and to divide the reflected rays and direct them into saidfarea in intersecting relation to each other and the direct rays.

9. In a broiler, a base, a support mounted on said base and having a loop portion overlying the base, an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution arranged at different'distances from a common axis and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis, said reflector resting on said loop portion and facing said base, said surfaces being generated by two parabolic curves having separate foci and intersecting axes, a heating element supported by said loop portion and having sections arranged at the foci of said surfaces, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially to the area of said base, and to direct reflected rays into said area.

10. In a broiler, abase, a support mounted on said base and having a loop portion overlying the base, an annular reflector comprising two coextensive surfaces of revolution arranged at different distances from a common axis and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis, said reflector resting on said loop portion and facing said base, said surfaces being generated by two parabolic curves having separate foci and intersecting axes, a heating element supported by said loop'portion and having sections arranged at the foci of said surfaces, a support for said heating unit comprising a pair of rings. plates between said rings and extending radially of theareflector, apertures in said plates through which the heating imit extends, and means insulating said heating unit from said plates.

11. In a broiler, a base, a support mounted on said base and comprising a loop overlying the base, an annular reflector comprising two surfaces of revolution, said reflector resting on said loop and facing said base, said surfaces being generated by two parabolic curves having separate foci and intersecting axes, a heating element supported by said loop and having sections arranged at the foci .of said surfaces; a support for said heating unit comprising a pair of rings,

. plates between said rings and extending radially of the reflector, apertures in said plates through which the heating unit extends, means insulating said heating unit from said plates, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantiallylto the area of the base and to direct the reflected rays into said area.

12. In a broiler, an annular trough shaped reflector comprising surfaces generated by rotation about but at different distances from a common axisof two parabolic curves having a common focus and intersecting axes and a heating element arranged substantially at the common fooils of said surfaces.

13. In a broiler, an annular trough shaped reflector comprising surfaces generated by rotation about but at different distances from a common axis of two parabolic curves having a common focus and intersecting axes, a heating element arranged substantially at the common focus of said surfaces, and a plate facing said reflector and dividing the extent of the broiling area, said surfaces being arranged to conflne direct rays substantially to the broiling area and to direct reflected rays into said area.

14. In a broiler, an annular trough shaped reflector comprising surfaces generated by rotation about but at different distances from a common axis of two parabolic curves having a common focus and intersecting axes, and a heating element arranged substantially at the common focus of said surfaces, said surfaces being arranged to confine direct rays substantially to the broiling area. and to divide the reflected rays and direct them into said area in intersecting relation to each other and to the direct rays.

15. A heater comprising an annular reflector comprising two substantially co-extensive surfaces of revolution of different transverse curvature arranged at different distances from a common axis to form an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis, and an annular heating element in said reflector, said annular trough surfaces being arranged to cause transverse reflected heat rays to intercept a perpendicular to the plane of the heating element.

16. An electric radiant heat projector comprising an annular heating element, an annular trough shaped reflector surrounding said heating element and having two substantially co-extensive surfaces so opposed as to limit direct heat to a speciflc area and reflect heat transversely to each other and across a perpendicular to the plane of the heating element.

17. An electric radiant heat projector comprising an annular heating element, an annular trough shaped reflector surrounding said element and having parabolic sections with coincident foci coaxial with said heating element and arranged at different distances from a common axis of revolution, said surfaces being so opposed as to reflect heat rays transversely to each other and across a perpendicular to the-plane of the heating element.

18. In a broiler, a supporting plate for the article to be broiled, a trough-like endless reflector facing said plate and having each edge lying in a plane parallel to said plate, and a heating element in said reflector, the side surfaces of said trough being of different curvature and arranged to confine direct rays from said heating element substantially to a given area on said plate and to direct substantially all .the reflected rays from said heating element into said area at different angles to each other and to the direct rays 20. In a broiler, tsuppbrting plate for the ar-- ticle to be broiled, a trough-like endless reflector facing said plate and having each edge lying in'a plane parallel to said plate, the side surfaces of;

said trough being of different parabolic curvature and having separate foci and intersecting axes, and a heating element in said trough having sections arranged at the ioci of said surfaces, said surfaces being effective to confine direct rays from the heating element substantially to a given area on said plate, and to divide the reflected rays and direct them to said area in intersecting relation to each other and the direct rays.

21. In a broiler, a supporting plate for-the article be broiled, a trough-like endles reflector facing said plate and having each edge lying in aplane parallel to said plate, the side surfaces of said trough being oi difierent parabolic curvature and having a common focus andintersecting axes, and a heating element arranged substantially at the common locus of said surfaces,-

said surfaces being effective to confine direct rays.

WILLIAMANDREW MERKLEIN.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,042,855. June 2, 1956.

WILLIAM ANDREW MERKLEIN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 67, claim 6, after the comma and before the article "a" insert and; page 5, first column, line 37, claim 10, after "two" insert the word substantially; line 54, claim 11, strike out the words "comprising a loop" and insert instead having a loop portion; line 55, same claim, after "two" insert substantially oo-extensive; and line 56, after "revolution" and before the comma insert the words arranged at different distances from a common axis and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis; lines 57 and 60, same claim, after "loop" insert portion; same page, second column, line 51 claim 15, strike out the words "reflector, said" and same line, after "trough" insert the comma and words said reflected; and line 39, claim 16, after "surfaces" insert the words arranged at different distances from a'c'ommon axis and being; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith' these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of August. A. D. 1936;

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Actinz Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent N0. 2,042,855. 4 June 2, 1956.

WILLIAM ANDREW MERKLEIN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 6'7, claim 6, after the comma and before the article "a" insert and; page 5, first column, line 57, claim 10, after "two" insert the word substantially; line 54, claim 11, strike outthe words "comprising a loop" and insert instead having a loop portion; line 55, same claim, after "two" insert substantially co-extensive; and line 56, after "revolution" and before the comma insert the words arranged at different distances from a common axis and forming an annular trough facing in the direction of said axis; lines 57 and 60, same claim, after "loop" insert portion; same page, second column, line 31 claim 15, strike out the Words "reflector, said" and same line, after "trough" insert the comma and words said reflected; and line 39, claim 16, after "surfaces" insert the words arranged at different distances from a'common axis and being; and that the said Letters Patent should be readvwith' these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of August, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

